14 June 27 • 2019
jn

Supporting Siblings

Teen receives award to provide support for siblings 
of people struggling with mental health issues.

F

or almost 15 years, Jessica 
Goldberg has been along 
for the ride at weekly 
therapy appointments as dozens 
of medication combinations were 
prescribed. She was there for 
the meltdowns in Target and in 
restaurants as bread was thrown 
across the room by her brother, who 
struggles with mental illness. As a 
sibling, she found no resources that 
met her needs, so she decided to cre-
ate one.
Jessica, also named a Rising Star by 
the JN and the JCC’
s JFamily earlier 
this year, understands what happens 
when those in supportive roles need 
support themselves. 
In November 2016, she start-
ed Sib4Sib, a 501c3 nonprofit that 
connects people ages 6-18 with the 
resources they need for their own 
mental health while actively helping a 
brother or sister deal with theirs.
All support groups are facilitated by 
licensed mental health professionals 
and give families the information 
and support they need. Sib4Sib uses 
workshops, community events, ad 
campaigns and public presentations 
to raise mental health awareness and 
support for the supporters.
This summer, Jessica was awarded 
the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award 
for her work with Sib4Sib. Now in its 
13th year, the award honors the work 
of teen leaders committed to igniting 
change in their communities and 
around the globe. She and her organi-
zation will receive $36,000.
Jessica, 17, of Farmington Hills said 

she is excited to join 15 other teens 
who share a passion for giving back 
and also received Diller Teen Tikkun 
Olam awards this year. 
“I am so honored to have received 
this award, and I am fortunate to be 
able to put all the money back into 
the organization,” said Goldberg, who 
attends Adat Shalom Synagogue in 
Farmington Hills with her brother 
and parents, Scot and Judy Goldberg. 
“I cannot express how humbled I am 
to be among the winners.”
Sib4Sib’
s support groups are free to 
participants, so the funds from the 
award will go toward continuing to 
provide this support without charge 
and toward the organization’
s goals. 
While Sib4Sib is not religiously affili-
ated, the group meets at Adat Shalom 
twice a month on Thursdays.
In the next year, Goldberg plans to 
create an all boys’
 support group, as 
she says she has noticed boys tend to 
feel uncomfortable sharing experi-
ences in co-ed groups that are mostly 
female. She also plans to create a kids’
 
group with a more play-based therapy 
approach.
As she prepares to begin her senior 
year at North Farmington High 
School, Goldberg is looking toward 
her organization’
s future. She is work-
ing with the Sib4Sib board to create a 
sustainability plan for when she leaves 
for college and beyond.
A celebratory awards ceremony 
honoring the teens will be held in San 
Francisco in August. ■ 

For more information, visit sib4sib.org or 

contact info@sib4sib.org or (248) 215-2451.

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JESSIE COHEN JN INTERN

Jessica Goldberg

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